Delicious Hanoi egg coffee

(Baoquangngai.vn) - In Hanoi , you can enjoy egg coffee in many places, from upscale to casual cafes. However, if you want to try this drink in its place of origin, it can only be at Giang Cafe. The egg coffee here captivates customers with its rich, creamy flavor and the interesting story about the drink's birthplace.

Impressive egg coffee

During a trip to Hanoi with acquaintances, after finishing our work, even though the train was only a few hours away, my friends insisted on enjoying a cup of egg coffee at Giang Cafe before leaving Hanoi for Quang Ngai . “For coffee connoisseurs, visiting Hanoi without trying Giang Cafe is a real shame. You might not find it delicious, but you can’t help but try it. CNN once rated egg coffee as one of Hanoi’s most impressive specialties. Notably, during the 2019 US-North Korea summit in Vietnam, Giang Cafe was even chosen as the beverage served to international journalists,” a friend shared, and we immediately went to visit.

Giang Cafe is nestled deep within a humble little alley. When asked for directions, both Hanoi residents and drivers know it by heart. It's on Nguyen Huu Huan Street, Ly Thai To Ward, Hoan Kiem District; just about 200 meters from Hoan Kiem Lake. From the outside, the cafe exudes a simple charm, with a narrow entrance about 1 meter wide. This only adds to visitors' curiosity about one of Hanoi's four famous and renowned cafes: "Nhan - Nhi - Di - Giang".

A corner of Giang Cafe.

Egg coffee is a popular destination for both Hanoi residents and tourists.

Giang Coffee, famous for its egg coffee, is a familiar destination for Hanoi residents and tourists alike.

The restaurant is small, about 200 square meters, with two floors. It attracts not only Hanoi residents but also many domestic and international tourists . There are no fancy or elaborate tables and chairs; the most common are small tables and stools arranged along the walls. The old-fashioned, rustic, and simple atmosphere of the restaurant gives visitors a unique feeling of old Hanoi, something that those who rarely visit Hanoi have only learned about and experienced through films and newspapers.

After about 5 minutes, the staff brought out steaming hot egg coffee, served in small, uniquely designed, palm-sized cups of warm water. Slowly stirring the frothy foam, spooning it into your mouth, the flavors of coffee and egg blend harmoniously; not too sweet, not too bitter, but creamy and rich, with an alluring aroma. Initially hesitant to try it, you'll then want another cup.

Giang Coffee is the birthplace of Hanoi's famous egg coffee.

"The perfect family recipe minimizes the greasy and fishy taste of the egg and the bitterness of the coffee, making it unique and distinctive in Hanoi's streets. Perhaps that's why egg coffee is especially suitable for those who can't tolerate the bitterness of filter coffee but still want to enjoy it. We feel a deeper appreciation for the sophistication of Hanoians in each cup of egg coffee," shared Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Truyen (37 years old), from Nghia Lo ward (Quang Ngai city), after enjoying it.

77-year-old cup of coffee

Egg coffee first appeared in Hanoi in the early 20th century. The creator of this unique drink was Mr. Nguyen Van Giang, who passed away 76 years ago. Mr. Giang once worked as a chef and bartender at a 5-star hotel during the French colonial period. At a time when sugar and milk were still scarce, he transformed the familiar Western cappuccino into egg coffee, using readily available ingredients but with a richer flavor, namely using egg yolks as a substitute.

Ms. Nguyen Huong Giang (40 years old), the third generation in Mr. Giang's family, said that it's a great alternative, solving the problem during this difficult economic period while creating a new and unique drink for Vietnamese cuisine. The coffee itself, after being filtered, is steeped in a small cup before being mixed with egg yolks and whisked thoroughly with other ingredients according to the family's secret recipe. When served to customers, the coffee is placed in a cup of warm water to retain its temperature. Naturally, this drink is more suitable for winter than summer.

Young people enjoy egg coffee and sticky rice with green rice flakes, specialties of Hanoi.

After 77 years of historical ups and downs, the original owner of Giang Coffee is now gone. Hundreds of famous domestic and international coffee brands have emerged on the market. Yet, Giang Coffee has managed to remain in its familiar corner of Hanoi with its egg coffee, earning recognition from tourists and international friends. They come here not only to enjoy a creative beverage but also to have incredibly interesting experiences, with unique characteristics of the old streets and people of Hanoi still preserved to this day.

Text and photos: THIEN HAU

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